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Amphiprotic Species

Submitted by ChemPRIME Staff on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 14:23

Molecules or ions which can either donate or accept a protonThe positively charged particle in an atomic nucleus; its mass is similar to the mass of a hydrogen atom., depending on their circumstances, are called amphiprotic species. The most important amphiprotic species is water itself. When an acid donates a proton to water, the water molecule is a proton acceptor, and hence a base. Conversely, when a base reacts with water, a water molecule donates a proton, and hence acts as an acid.

Another important groupThose elements that comprise a single column of the periodic table. Also called family. of amphiprotic species is the amino acids. Each amino acid molecule contains an acidic carboxyl group and a basic amino group. In fact the amino acids usually exist in zwitterion (German for “double ion”) form, where the proton has transferred from the carboxyl to the amino group. In the case of glycine, for example, the zwitterion is

The zwitterion can donate one of the protons from the N, just as an NH4+ ion can donate a proton. On the other hand, its COO– end can accept a proton, just as a CH3COO– ion can.

Other common amphiprotic species are HCO3–, H2PO4–, HPO42–, and other anions derived from diproticDescribes an acid that can donate two hydrogen ions (protons) to a base. or triprotic acids.

Diigolet

Term of the Day

A unitA particular measure of a physical quantity that is used to express the magnitude of the physical quantity; for example, the meter is the unit of the physical quantity, length. for expressing the relative masses of atomsThe smallest particle of an element that can be involved in chemical combination with another element; an atom consists of protons and neutrons in a tiny, very dense nucleus, surrounded by electrons, which occupy most of its volume.; abbreviated amuAbbreviation for atomic mass unit, a unit for expressing the relative masses of atoms. An atom of carbon-12 has a mass of 12 amu. 1 amu corresponds to 1.662x10-24 g.. An atom of carbon-12 has a mass of 12 amu. 1 amu corresponds to 1.662x10-24 g.

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